MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

This week, House Republicans voted to cut food programs that serve some of our most vulnerable citizens—including sharp reductions to the vital nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), support for low-income seniors, community food banks, and a program to provide growing children with healthy fruits and vegetables. While Republicans fight for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, they are cutting programs for those who need them most. Democrats’ priorities stand in stark contrast. While we agree we must cut unnecessary spending, these programs are critical to the health of millions of Americans and are investments that ultimately save money and lives.

And as American families continue to feel the effects of high gas prices, Republicans also voted this week to slash next year’s budget for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission—the agency that oversees oil markets—by 44 percent below the president’s request. With gas prices still high, now is not the time to be siding with speculators over hard working families.

I’m also disappointed Republicans have not addressed job creation in the six months they’ve been in office. While they have said repeatedly that they are focused on job creation, we have still not seen a single jobs bill brought to the Floor for a vote. Democrats, on the other hand, have been focused on our Make It In America agenda, a plan to support job creation and increase American manufacturing by creating an encouraging environment for businesses to make products and innovate in the U.S. I hope in the coming weeks, Republicans will work with us on the priorities of the American people: creating jobs, growing the economy and enacting a plan to reduce the deficit.

Sincerely yours,

STENY H. HOYER

P.S. Please invite your friends and family to sign up for this newsletter to learn about what House Democrats are doing to lead America in a new direction.